Fitting for automobile radiators



Nov. 9, 1948. E. BRADY, JR 2,453,406

FITTING FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATRS Filed oct. 4, 1947` A Patented Nov. 9, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I FITTING FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS Francis Brady,` Jr., Muncie, `Ind. Application October 4, 1947, Serial No. 777,904

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a fitting for automobile radiator ller spouts such asvwill permit the closure thereof or attachment thereto.

It is the purpose of the invention to provide such a tting which may be applied` to varying sizes, within limits of present day automobile radiator filler spouts. and irrespective of such spouts being provided with internal or external camming and locking flanges.

However, the invention is particularly adapted for use in making a temporary sealed connection with a radiator filler spout for ilu-Shing the radiator, and wherein the fitting is permanently con nected with inlet and outlet hose or conduits, reference being had to the radiator cleaning system and apparatus as more particularly disclosed in my application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 691,073, filed August 16, 1946.

In such apparatus there is permanently connected with the inletand outlet hose orconduits a tting for ready and convenient attachment to various sizes and types of radiator iller spouts,l and wherein the tting is formed with `inlet and outlet conduits extending into or communicating with the interior of the radiator through thek ller spout. Present day radiator llerspouts vary slightly as to diameter, some beingprovided With internal camming and locking ilanges and some with external camming and locking flanges. The fitting herein provided is arranged to be mounted on and interlock in sealing engagement with various types of filler spouts` through the medium of adjustable external and internal gripping fingers.

Thus, with a fille!` spout having an `external flange the external lingers of the litting may be adjusted to embrace and lock under the `ilange. Wherein the filler spout may be provided with an internal ange, the internal gripping fingers may be adjusted to extend thereunder. Thereupon, through a` partial rotation ofthe fitting the ange engaging ngers will cam the fittin into sealing engagement with the spout. i

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims. i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the fitting showing it mounted on a ller spout having an internal flange shown in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the fitting showing it applied to an externally flanged iiller spout shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the tting showing the external ngers in extreme inward position of adjustment in full lines and i 2 i i extreme outward position ofadjustmentindotted lines. i i 3 u Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of theiitting. V Fig. 5 is a top plan view of .the finger plate `removed from the fitting and with the 4iingers `tratecl an automobile radiator I0 having the usual filler spout II or IIa throughwhich thezradiator and cooling system ofthe automobile *may `bje y filled with the cooling liquid,` usually water. i i i The fillerspout II of Fig. lis ,illustrativeffof that type having opposed internal camming and ,locking anges I2. The filled spout I Ia, as shown in Fig. 2 is of that type having opposed externalI camming andf locking flanges I2a.

' this invention is adapted to be temporarily `connected in sealing engagement with either type of filler spout and of varying sizes to permit cleansing and ushing of the radiator and cooling system. For that purpose there is provided a fitting comprising a head I3 to which thereris `connected an inlet hose I4 and an outlet hose I5 communicating with the passageways IBand I'I, respectively, formed within the headlmThe inlet passageway I6 is provided with an injector nozzle I8 adapted to extend downwardly through the ller spout and the passageway I1 is'also fin communication therewith. Thus, the cleansing solution or flushing water may be discharged through the hose I4, passageway I6, and` nozzle I8 into the `radiator and exhausted `therefrom through the passageway I1 and hose I5. i

Secured to the connecting face of the body -I3 by the screws I9 there is a linger plate 2l)H over which the 'rubber gasket/2| is adapted to lie for seating over the upper edge of the ller spout in .sealing engagement therewith. Thefingerplate 20 is formed with a downwardlyextendingfboss `22 about which the rubber gasket 2l is mounted, and on the opposite surface thereof lying adjacent the face of the head I3 it is formed with a series of recessed pockets 23 `and 24 (Fig. `5).

There are apair of pockets 23 extendingradially outwardly in opposed relation from thiercenf- The carnming and locking flanges of said ller spouts are tral opening of the plate for slidably receiving the .internal grippingr fingers 25 as shown in Fig. 7. The pockets 24 are diametrically opposed from each other and offset 90 degrees from the pockets 23, opening externally of the plate to slidably receive the externally gripping fingers 26 as shown in Fig. 6. Each of the pockets 2d is slotted in- Wardly at 21 leaving a shoulder 28, whereas the pockets 23.ayre slottedinternallyat 2,9..

..-al erppngnnger 2,5is ufsnaped in form Yand is provided with an enlarged sliding base portion 30 adapted to slide radially of the finger plate Within the pocket 23. portion v3llis connected by a neck portion with a slightly dished lip portion 3l formed (tojxtendy The base 'n downwardly and radially outwardly in spaced relation tothe gasket 2l for engaginglthe vunder:

its inner adjacent surface formed with a pair of radially opposed internal pockets and a pair of radially opposed external pockets, and a plurality ofginternalqand external gripping ngers radially slidable Within each of said pockets, respec" tivelyfysaidingershaving an cverhanging lips side ofthe camming and locking flange, l2mof y the ller spout l l. The external gripping iingers are similarly formed with a reduced base portion .35 whichis sufficiently. light tov permitsaidiingers .g

to be `manually adjusted toward or' from each other. vaccording to. the .inner diameter. of. the fllleris'pout. 1I I, .but .under .suicient.tensi`on to .prevent them-from drppin'gidown out of adjusted position 'when the' .flttingvis'overturned t'o`l be y mounted.over"thelspot.. The .'head 3350i .the .-flngerlrprevents the finger fromfsliding radially 'outwardly heyondtheliniiting. shoulder 281 i operatiom whenthezflttifig` is. to be *applied to an internally flanged filler spoutjj, ,theinj- Zternalgrippiiig fingers.. 25v pare manually adjusted wand Qisetby slidihg-thein Withinxtheirfrespec A.tive vpockets1'23 so that they may beinserted A-iivithin ithesspoutbetween. the flanges i2.`"'.`..The

-pressure. exerted. .onztheiingers by-the spring y3.5 a

hasthe elfeQt. 0f slightly tilting and frictionall'y locking .themfor .holding in .their adjusted posi-t vtion.' lIhe ttingfis'thenplacd over. the spout SmithA the-internal ngerslso related to the cam- ...ming .and lockinglflangeslz as toengage there- `rwitl?!.andidravv .theflttingf i'n'tdxsealing engage.- .ament ilpo'nfa partial rotation` thereof .in "thelsame :.manneua'slthe lusuali-ller:cap` ..When.the' tting appiieefro'a filler spoutnaving the exrternaLrlanges -.l,2 a, the externalnngersz" 26. are --similarlyadjustedwithinthei'r pockets 24 to clear Jffii-helneck ,ofA thespout and extend.lunderv the anges Iza tobeam'med thereby .into locking aand ,.sealinpositipn uponv `a .partial 1 rotation of he g rg ffl 'Qi'.i Y., gWhile'theini/ention has been particularlydescribed in.. respect, to a.l fitting. for. cleaning and -fihineffradiatorsif t.: :.ma'y .me empio-.vedi in.` a asimilarfmanneror ,otherr purposes. or-as a; closure sap-yfonluniversaleap licationwto the. presentI day Q fgfllhe'inyention claimed is: l d-fitting for. `an, automobileyradiator.- having affillerspout yprovidedyvitlfucammingand locking liasses ,therecncomprisng a ntiingihead@ meer from each other to a position for engagingand interlocking with radiator anges of varying di .ameteI-L". ,zu v

3;.A mung for arl-automobile radiator having a filler spoutl provided with internal camming and locking flanges thereon or a ller spout providedwith external camming' and locking flanges lcomprising a tting head, a linger plate adapted with said. internal flanges of varying diameter,

and a pair of external gripping fingers slidably mounted in said externarpockets, respectively, each having inwardly extending overhanginglips adapted for manual adjustment to engage and interlock with the said external anges of vary.-

ng diameter. i

4. A `'fitting for an automobile radiator having a...filler;spout provided with internal camming and locking flanges thereon or afiller spout provided: with 'external camming and locking flanges comprising va fitting head, a finger plate adapted to Ahe secured to said-A head having its inner adjacent surface--formedwith a pair of radially opposed internal pockets and a pair of radially opposed external rpockets, internal grippingngers slidably mounted .in` each of said internal pockets, each having an overhanging lip extending outwardly away from each other adapted vfor manual adjustment to engage and interlock with said internal anges of varying diameter, a pair of externalgrippingngers slidably mounted in saidexternal pockets, respectively, each having inwardly extending oyerhanging lips adapted for manual adjustment to engage and interlock with thefsaid `external flanges of varying diameter, and a compression spring interposed between said yinternalgripping:'fingers I eifective to frictionally maintain them in adjusted position.

5. A fitting for an automobile radiator having a `filler spout provided with internal camming and locking flanges thereon ora iiller spout provided With external camming and locking flanges comprising a ttinghead, a finger plate adapted to be secured to said head having its vinner adjacent surface formed with a pair of radially 'opn posed internal pockets and `a pair of radially opiposed external pockets, internal gripping fingers slidably'mounted in each of said internal pockets, ea'chhaving an overhanging lip extending outwardly` away from each other adapted for manual adjustment to engage and interlock with said internal flanges of varying diameter, a pair of external gripping lingers slidably mounted in said external pockets, respectively, each having inwardly extending overhanging lips adapted for manual adjustment to engage and interlock with the said external anges of varying diameter, and inner engaging shoulders formed on said external ngers and said plate, respectively, for limiting their extreme outward position and retaining them in said pockets.

6. A fitting for an automobile radiator having a ller spout provided with internally extending camming and locking ngers or a radiator having a filler spout provided with external camming and locking anges thereon, comprising a fitting head having inlet and outlet passageways therethrough for connection with inlet and outlet conduits, respectively, a finger plate adapted to be secured to said head about `said passagewaysv having its inner adjacent face formed with radially opposed elongated pockets and a slot opening internally thereof, an internal gripping finger having a base portion slidably confined in each of said pockets and an outl diameter.

6 wardly extending lip portion extending in spaced relation over the opposite surface of said plate, each of said fingers being slidably adjustable within said pocket and recess toward and away from each other to a position for engagement .and interlocking with internal flanges of varying diameter, a spring interposed between said fingers for causing them to be frictionally held to adjusted position, said plate being formed with a pair of radially opposed external pockets having an external slot formed therein embraced by limiting shoulders, and a pair of externallgripping fingers each having a base portion slidably mounted in one of said external pockets limited by said shoulder portion therein and a clown-` wardly and inwardly extending lip portion adjustable in said pocket and slot and spaced from the opposite surface of said plate whereby said external ngers may be adjusted toward and away from each other to a position for engaging and interlocking with external flanges of varying `No references cited. 

